Is it really possible?

Elle is 8 years old...recently she came home talking about a boy liking her and she returning the affection. Jason and I have been praying about the days of talking to her about the "birds and the bees" in several years...but in today's society, it is always a fear that we would wait too long. We sure don't want her to hear about anything from her friends, people at school, or from a boy! Elle and I had a good talk this week about wanting to surround yourself with other people with the same belief systems...and I was shocked to hear her response of, don't all my friends believe in Jesus? Oh man, she is even more naive than I thought! We will continue to rely on God's timing as to when to broach subjects with her and when she is mature enough to hear certain subjects. I mean, she is only in the third grade, and we know that if you train up the child in the way he (or she) should go, even when he (or she) is old they will not depart from it. We know that is true and are counting on it!!

New years weekend

My best friend in the whole world lives in Austin. We don't get to see each other near enough...but when we do, it's like we were never apart. I miss her so much , and was so happy when we were able to plan our New Years together this year. We left early on Friday and came back late on Sunday...so the trip wasn't as long as I would have liked...but she and I were able to visit, catch up on our spiritual lives, push each other to the next level, and go shopping. Can't ask for better. We also went out to a great restaurant downtown Austin on New Years eve and had a wonderful time. It brought back such wonderful memories of being in McKinney and spending so many dinners hanging out with she and Chris. We are going to be able to see each other more soon as she and her husband are investing in a horse for her little girl and leaving it at our center in Waco...so they will be coming to visit it once a month...which means, we will arrange to be there at the same time! Guaranteed Alaina time!! God always answers our prayers...we all need those friends and even when it seems impossible...nothing is impossible with God.

Enjoying the new keurig

The kids are always asking me to make them hot chocolate...and it is not like I have to boil the water on the stove or anything...but I always dread making it...I honestly don't know why...but I really love it. It's just a hassle to make...is it? I feel like it is...but all of you that know me are probably making fun of me right now because really anything in the kitchen is a hassle for me to make...
So this year with some of Jason's Christmas money, he decided to buy a Keurig. He has talked about it for a while, but never bought one. I don't drink coffee, but we have a Keurig at the office and I do make hit chocolate at work almost everyday. So when Jason came home with the machine, I immediately knew that the kids and I were in business! The kids are so funny now because everyday they ask for a cup of hot chocolate and I am so happy to make it for them...and we all sit down and enjoy a cup.

Modifying and adjusting

So the kids and I continue on our exercise regiment...but Easton got a new 3 wheeler for Christmas since his big wheel was getting a little worn and he doesn't like riding his bike with training wheels...and he just isn't fast enough without them...I go running a few times a week with a friend of mine and her son...he is Elle's age, so they ride their scooters and are super fast. The first time when Easton rode his new 3 wheeler, he was really good...but I think the next day, his little legs were a little sore and he was not in the mood...so we hooked him up to a little leash and pulled him along as we ran. It was pretty funny how he would just cross his little legs and allow us to pull him. Since Christmas, Jason has started going with us and Easton is never going to slack with his daddy around...so we have not had to use the leash since. But we will see. Easton has a motorized police car and occasionally he asks if he can just bring it to the park so that he can keep up with us. I keep telling him that he is missing the point of going to the park...

Getting rid of the Christmas tree

I am such a great wife...right? Jason had mentioned that we needed to get rid of our Christmas tree this year because it was old. So, me being the helpful wife that I am...and being off work for two weeks...I decided to take everything down while I was off. But as you can imagine, I had not really thought through how hard it would be to pull apart the huge Christmas tree without any help from my big, strong husband. I am so thankful that my 8 year old did not think to turn on the video camera as I was trying to pull that tree apart...hilarious!! And...as I finally got the top part done and taken out to the street...I see the trash truck coming...at least two hours early!! Seriously?? Is that how it always happens? The hardest part of the tree was still left and now I had the truck coming around the corner? Man, did I say a prayer, because I honestly did not want that tree left in the garage...I did not want to give up!! It came apart just as the truck was pulling up...and I ran it out to the curb. The sweet trash man walked back up to the house and helped me with the last piece and laughed as he saw me tangling with it. I explained to him that I was trying to be "helpful". He just continued to laugh...I hoped that Jason would see it as helpful and not laugh! I was sweating!! But the kids and I did get it done...and Jason was impressed...which of course was the whole point. :). Now..the hard part is finding another tree before Christmas next year at a reasonable price!!

Christmas morning 2011

Christmas morning is always a little hectic around here because we have established that we are here at our house until after the kids have the Santa experience, and then we are off...off to Waco for Jason's family Christmas and then my family Christmas that evening. So it is a lot of presents and a lot of driving in one day. But also a lot of family and lot of love in one day..so it's worth it! This year, the kids were a lot more willing to leave early because their toys are portable...Elle got a Kindle Fire this year and Easton got a DS...so they could just bring their big toys with them instead of having to leave them behind like they usually do. We were able to make it to the Rinewalts in plenty of time for visiting and then Tree...so it was a wonderful time. It is so great because on both sides the kids have a boy and girl cousin to play with and always have plenty to do at both grandparents. We really are so blessed...I have to remind myself of that sometimes when things are perfect or when I have had a bad day. We really have it pretty stinking great. This year was a great year and the kids repeatedly said that it was the "best Christmas ever"! Can't beat that!

Reason for the season

Every year, as we discuss Christmas, I love that the children know why we are celebrating Christmas. Not that they don't talk about the gifts they want..or talk about Santa..but there is no question in their minds that the reason for the season is Jesus birthday. We have always had the birthday party for Jesus, but I love as the children are getting older that they are finally taking it all in what Jesus really did for us coming here as a baby and living here as a human..and ultimately dying for us. It is so exciting to hear them pray now because they are not praying like toddlers anymore...they are praying like they have a relationship with our Lord...a real relationship. It is so humbling. Christmas eve was fun this year...or more special this year as I felt like we were able to really experience it with our kids..more so than ever. I guess that will only get better.

Gingerbread house making time

We started a few years ago building gingerbread houses on Christmas eve day. The kids really enjoy it, and they never turn out looking very nice--but we always have something to laugh about later. This year, when we picked up the kit for the house, I guess we were in a hurry, because it was a premade house...have you seen these? You don't have to put anything together or anything like that..just decorate. Where is the fun in that? But at this point, we were smack dab in the middle of our day--so we couldn't look back now. We decorated...and decorated...the kids are older now and both have their opinions of decorating. Easton is more into eating the decorations and Elle wants everything in a certain order...as you can imagine this makes for lots of laughing, shrills, and "it's okay, it doesn't matters".
Lots of great memories!

Easton hanging out with the Wills family

Over the Christmas break, Elle mentioned to my mom that she wanted some "YaYa and Poppi" alone time so my mother called me and asked if she could come for a few days and spend some time at their house alone. Jason and I talked about it and agreed, but then needed to decide what we would do to make the time special for Easton. I decided to call my brother and sister in law and invite my neice over for a few days since she and Easton get along so well. My sister in law said that since we had kept her for a week during the summer, that they wanted Easton to come to Southlake for a few days. That would give Jason and I a few days alone together...what's that?? So we agreed and I spent the next day driving both kids in different directions--totally worth it!!
While Easton was there, he and Addyson went to an aquarium and to Lego Land. We weren't sure if he was going to want to come home! We were able to FaceTime with him every night and they had a blast! Elle spent the entire time basking in the grandparents attention, as well as my oldest brothers that lives there on my parents property. And then I met up with them on the third day for some shopping and spent the night there. We had a great time. Cousin time is always so much fun.